Closure cap



July 17, 192s. 1,677,403

W. L. MORRISON CLosURE CAP Filed April 25,Y 1925 lllllllllllllllllg V3 Patented July 17,1928.

vPATE r ori-"ice,

WILLARD L. MORRISON, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS;

` CLOSURE CAP.

Application fiie'd Aprii 25, i925. seriai No. 25,733.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in closures, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction of and in the manner manipulating closure caps for the inlet openings.

of liquid storage reservoirs such as the fuel supply tanks of automobiles and the like. `An object of the invention is to provide an improved closure cap which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

It is common practice in the automobile industry, to store the liquid fuel supply for the propelling motor of each car, in a reservoir or tank. The storage tank is ordinarily provided with a readily accessible inlet or supply opening which is normally sealed by means of a removable cap having screw f thread coaction with an integral portion of the tank. In the Ford car, the supply tank is now located below the front seat and the closure cap which is externally threaded, coacts with internal screw threads of the tank supply opening, the top of the cap being substantially iush with the top of the tank. All of the prior fuel supply tank closure caps are extremely objectionable for various reasons. Since the cap is not positively attached to the tank in any manner, it l is frequently lostl either by misplacement after voluntary removal or by automatic displacement of the 4cap during operation of the vehicle. The prior threaded caps are also rather difficult-to apply and. remove and are often battered and broken during removal when the threads become jammed. It also requires considerable time to prop-l erly apply and remove athreaded cap when lling or inspection of the tank is necessary. While the foregoing are the major objections to the screw threaded caps now universally employed, there are many other minor objections.

The present invention contemplates provision of an improved closure cap especially applicable to the fuel supply tank of the Ford car, wliiclimay be conveniently opened and tightly closed, and which ispermanently attached to the tank. Theimproved closure cap has a slip fit with the tank supply opening, and is automatically and positively retained in both open and closed position. v Besides being of extremely neat appearance and mechanical in structure, the vimproved device maybe quickly applied by a novice to any standard tank, being formed for attachment directly vto the standard screw threads of the 'tank supply'opening. The

appliance is formed to permit unobstructed admission of fuel to the tank, embodies no objectionable projecting parts, and may be constructed for application as an accessory to any type of tank. These and other objects and advantages attainable with'jthe present invention, will be apparentin the course of the following description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention especially applicable to the fuel supply tank of a Ford car, and of the mode of manipulating suc-h a device, may be' had by referring to the'drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specilication in which like reference characters designatethe same Vor'similar ,parts in the various views.

Fig. lk is a central vertical section through l an improved closure cap applied to the'inlet opening of a fuel supply tank, the cap being shown in extreme open position.v

Fig; 2 is a. top view of the improved closure cap.

Y Fig. 3 is al bottom view of the seating element or ring and of the improved closure cap.

.Figa 4L is a side elevation of the improved closure cap appliedto a tank, the cap being in extreme open position.

.F ig. 5 vis a fragmentary central vertical section through an improved closurecap appliedto a tank, showing the cap in position just priorto closing.

The improvedv closure cap specifically illustrated, comprises' in general a seating element or ring 2 having external screw threads 6 and a central circular supplyopeningf 5 a sealing element or cap 3 movable rectilinearly toward and away from the opening 7 and in line therewith; and guide meansY consisting of a single wire l rigidly attached to the cap `3 and having parallel rod por ionsf i'vhich-frictionally and slidably engage holes penetrating the ring 2. The reservoir or tank l1 has a supply opening provided with internal screw threads 12 with which the element threads l6 are adapted to coact as shown. The closure cap 3 has a lower circular projection 9 which is guide means, of the adapted to entera-nd snuglyiit the central opening` 7 of the seating element 2 and also has a lower transverse surface 13 formed for coaction with the upper transverse surface prises the laterally spaced 'tions 5 connected at their 14 of the seating element 2. The cap 3 may if desired be formed of sheet metal. and.y may also be provided with a vent opening 15 as shown. The guide means or wire 4 compara'll'el rod por-l lower ends by l means ot a bent portion l0 and at theii` upand the cap 3.

per ends by means of `the handle portion 8. The bent lower wire portion l() is semicircular as shown in Fig.` 3 in order to avoid obstruction below. the opening 7. rlhe ends ,of the single wire may be integrally united at the medial part o't the handle por.

tionv 8 by welding, brazing or soldering. The portion 16. of; the lower. cap projection 9 and the adjacent upperportion 17 of the wire Zlare preferably distorted. toward cachy other so as to exert a clamping pressure .upon the intervening portion Vof the element 2 whenthe capV 3 is closed.

rAfter the seating element 2 and the cap 3 have been properly Jformed, a single wire having straight parallel side rodV portions 5 connected, at their lower ends by a previously` the. element Q so that the cap 3 will be frictionally retained in any'position of adjust ment within the limits alordedv bythe rod portions 5. The wire portion 17 may subsequently be distorted to produce the desired locking etl'ect, whereupon the device is completely. assembled.

lVith the device completely assembled, it'

may be readily inserted in operative position withrespect to a tank 11 as shown in Figs.

l. 4l and 5, upon removal of the ordinary tank closure cap. Then the improved device has been thus applied,` the cap 3 may be elevated to. the position shown in F ig. 1 or to any intermediate position by merely pullinguj wardly upon the handle 8. VlVitli the cap-3 in uppermost position, the tank 11 maybe filled by insertion ofthe ordinary. filling hose*` nozzle, without interference by the cap 3 or the. rod portions 5. ln order to; Close the cap 3, itis onlynecessary to press downwardly thereagainst thus causing the cap 3 to eventually assume the position shown in Fig. 5. Upon further applicationA of downward pressure, the wire portionv 17 is suddenly sprung outwardly eausingthe Acap 3 to close completely with a snap and locking the cap inl closed position'.y The clamping action atorded bythe distorted rod portion 17 while being suflicient to retain the cape 3 tightly. j

closed; is not however sui'ilcient. toA prevent ready opening thereof.

it will thus be noted. that the improved closure cap besides beingreadilyattachable to a standard threaded tank 1l, may be conveniently opened and closed by merely pulling or pusliinggoi` the cap 3. The rod portions 5 of the single wire 4; effec-tively guide and retain the. cap 3 in any desiredy position,

and prevent loss thereof. By 'forming the guide means of a single wire Litho structurel is reduced to its simplest orm asthe entire device comprises only three parts. utilizing only two laterallyspaced rods portions 5 and a bent lower portion 10,. obstruction to filling is entirely eliminated.. ln vease a igiter closure is desired, a. suitable washer may readily be placed between. the cooper-- ating surfaces 13, 14 in an obvious manner.

l/'liile the invention is disclosedheieiii as be,L

ing specifically applicable-g to Ford fuel tanks, itis not contemplated to thereby impose limitations upon the claims.

lt should be understood that it isA not desired to limit the `invention to the exact details oiu construction herein shown and described. for` obvious modilications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art. y

lt is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent :-v

l. yln combination, an annular V element' having external screw threads and acentralopening, a; closure cap movable toward and away from` Vsaid opening, and guide means comprising parallel rod portions carried by saidcap and; rictionally engaging said` elef ment-beyond` the periphery ofY said opening. 2., ln combination,y an annular element having a central opening and peripheral.

screw threads, cap movable in line with said opening, and; guide vmeans rigidly attached to said cap and comprising Parallel i rod portions slidablethrough` openings in said' element, said rod portions being; formed to rictionally retain said cap in-open posi',- tionz relatively to said opening..

3..1'n combinatioin, a seating, element having an opening', a capinovable in lineVv with said opening, and guide means connecting said element and said cap, said cap having a projection formed to enter Said. opening and said guide means having; a resilientjpor tion cooperable with said projection to lock said cap in closed position relativelyv to said element. f

4.111 combination, an annular seatingv element having an opening and a surtaceV extending transversely of said opening,I a cap having a: projection adapted to; enter said opening and having a; surface coactablewith said element surface, and, guidemeans permanently .connecting said element and said cap, said guide means being formed to look said cap to said element when said projection is disposed within said opening.

5. In combination, an annular element having an external screw thread, a Central opening, and holes on opposite sides of said central opening, a cap movable toward and away from said opening, and a guide rigidly attached to said cap and having rod portions friotionally engageable with said holes.

6. In Combination, an element having an opening, a cap movable toward and away from said opening, and a. guide connectingV said element and said oap, said guide oompiising a continuous wire the lower portion of which is bent to follow the contour of said opening to avoid obstruction in line with said openino'.

7. In combination, an element having an opening, a cap movable to close said opening, and a single wire forming a yhandle for moving said cap and providing parallel guide rods frietionally engaging said element on opposite sides of said opening'. p y 8. In combination, an element havingexternal screw threads and a Central opening,

a cap movable to close said opening, and a single wire guide forming a handle for moving said cap and providing parallel guide rods penetrating said element at the inner side of said screw threads.

9. In combination, an element having an opening, a oap movable to Close said opening, and a single wire guide forming parallel guide rods on opposite sides ot' said opening, the lower end of said wire being bent to clear said opening and the upper endv thereof forming a handle for moving said cap.

l0. In combination, an element having an ripening,

prising parallel rod portions carried by said cap and t'iiotionally engaging said element beyond the periphery of said opening.

element having an fiiotionallyv engagingsaidholes to retain.

said cap in open position.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

WILLARD L. MORRISON.

a cap movable toward and away trom said opening, and guide means com- 

